Petunia plant named ‘Keisurfhopises’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Keisurfhopises’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; single light red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KEISURFHOPISES’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Keisurfhopises’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sawara, Chiba, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely flowering Petunia plants with early flowering habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2005 in Sawara, Chiba, Japan of an unnamed proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Sawara, Chiba, Japan in March, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Sawara, Chiba, Japan since September, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Keisurfhopises’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Keisurfhopises’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Single light red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact than and not as         spreading as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ slightly in flower color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia ‘Sunsurfcoparu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,141. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sawara, Chiba, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunsurfcoparu’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sunsurfcoparu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flowered for a longer period of         time than plants of ‘Sunsurfcoparu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunsurfcoparu’ differed in         flower petal, throat and tube color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Keisurfhopises’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Keisurfhopises’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Yachiyo, Chiba, Japan and under commercial practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were one month old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Keisurfhopises’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at             temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 10° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; light brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant             habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 15 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 13 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 7 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly; decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; viscid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138A; venation, close to 138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             numerous flowers per plant; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about two to             three weeks after planting; long flowering period; flowering             commences naturally in mid-March and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late October in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 1.5 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.2 cm. Petal width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Cuspidate. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Throat texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74C;             venation, close to N74C. Petal, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 75C; venation, close to 75C.             Throat: Close to 69D; venation, close to 69D. Tube: Close to             69D; venation, close to 69D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             7 mm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly oblong.             Sepal apex: Narrowly acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent; viscid. Color: Close             to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther color: Close to 155B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158B. Pistils: Quantity:             One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.7 cm. Style length:             About 1.6 cm. Style color: Close to 145B. Stigma shape:             Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 143A. Ovary             color: Close to 143C. Seeds/fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Keisurfhopises’ as illustrated and described. 